33:
159:
exemplifies its deadliness and the gruesome condition in which it leaves its victims. This can be seen in the fact that after it is used, one must literally cut into the victim to retrieve it. This was the case in Cúchulainn's slaying of
Ferdiad. As it is stated in Ciaran Carson's translation of
145:
down the stream to his master, who cast it into
Ferdiad's body, piercing the warrior's armor and "coursing through the highways and byways of his body so that every single joint filled with barbs." Ferdiad died soon after. On a separate occasion, Cúchulainn also killed his own son,
137:, everything the same, except she taught the Gáe Bulg feat only to Cuchulainn. He later used it in single combat against Ferdiad. They were fighting in a ford, and Ferdiad had the upper hand; Cúchulainn's charioteer,
425:
375:
Lewis, Timothy. "Bolg, Fir Bolg, Caladbolg" in Ryan, J. (ed.), Féil-sgríbhinn Eóin Mhic Néill, Dublin, 1940; repr. Four Courts Press 1995, pp. 46-62.
99:, the Curruid, that had died while fighting another sea monster, the Coinchenn. Although some sources make it out to be simply a particularly deadly
418:
164:
Láeg came forward and cut Fer Diad open and took out the Gáe Bolga. Cú Chulainn saw his weapon bloody and crimson from Fer Diad's body...
1027:
411:
115:
had to be made ready for use on a stream and cast from the fork of the toes. It entered a man's body with a single wound, like a
1122:
907:
1083:
1055:
393:
Schrijver, Peter. Studies in
British Celtic Historical Phonology., Rodopi, 1995, p. 384 (for etymology of Irish
338:
321:
76:), meaning "spear of mortal pain/death", "gapped/notched spear", or "belly spear", was the name of the spear of
1006:
150:, with the spear. In both instances, it was used as a last resort, as once thrown it proved invariably fatal.
756:
669:
562:
522:
1062:
552:
155:
125:
1117:
695:
1076:
700:
598:
119:, then opened into thirty barbs. Only by cutting away the flesh could it be taken from that man's body.
1048:
746:
283:
259:
1041:
1013:
938:
867:
603:
487:
452:
201:
173:
Traditionally, the name has been translated as "belly spear", with the second element of the name,
954:
593:
572:
527:
629:
781:
639:
457:
305:
37:
1097:
964:
791:
674:
537:
104:
129:, Cúchulainn received the spear after training with the great warrior mistress Scáthach in
1127:
974:
776:
761:
736:
434:
326:
123:
In other versions of the legend, the spear had seven heads, each with seven barbs. In the
85:
877:
1069:
731:
502:
492:
467:
357:
Meyer, Kuno . Contributions to Irish lexicography, Volume 1, M. Niemeyer, 1906. p. 236.
77:
1111:
1020:
898:
771:
343:
277:
403:
989:
902:
438:
232:
81:
32:
690:
634:
532:
384:
Hamp, Eric P. "Varia I: 10. at·bail(l), (gaé) bulga", Ériu 24, 1973, pp. 179–182.
959:
837:
796:
726:
624:
547:
507:
211:
185:
96:
89:
1034:
979:
577:
216:
189:
107:—state that it could only be used under very specialized, ritual conditions:
928:
923:
654:
644:
512:
497:
254:"spear" was no longer recognizable to Irish speaker, its Old Irish cognate,
240:
224:
206:
178:
852:
822:
664:
984:
832:
786:
482:
54:
17:
847:
801:
721:
659:
649:
542:
517:
477:
472:
462:
271:
200:), suggesting a linguistic link with the second element in the name of
138:
134:
116:
969:
882:
817:
766:
741:
716:
567:
557:
147:
88:. It was given to him by his martial arts teacher, the warrior woman
258:, was reattached to the beginning for clarification, forming a new,
872:
862:
827:
100:
31:
857:
842:
751:
619:
130:
407:
366:
Loth, Joseph. Les
Mabinogion, Volume 1, Thorin, 1889, p. 200.
239:
meaning "spear of mortal pain/death spear" (comparable to
27:
Spear of Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology
192:, have preferred to derive it rather from Old Irish
998:
947:
916:
891:
810:
709:
683:
612:
586:
445:
36:Cú Chulainn fighting with a spear, as depicted by
162:
109:
419:
8:
92:, and its technique was taught only to him.
184:Several notable Celtic scholars, including
426:
412:
404:
196:"gap, breach, notch" (cognate with Welsh
133:. She taught him and his foster-brother,
153:Cúchulainn's use of the Gáe Bulg in the
296:
353:
351:
53:
7:
177:, being treated as a derivative of
25:
246:"spear, dart", from Proto-Celtic
274:, Odin's spear in Nordic legend
95:It was made from the bone of a
1:
908:Liath Macha and Dub Sainglend
227:derives the second element,
250:). Once the second element
1144:
1093:
181:bolg "belly, sack, bag".
304:O'Curry, Eugene (1873).
51:Old Irish pronunciation:
1084:Togail Bruidne Dá Derga
310:. Williams and Norgate.
166:
121:
40:
696:Conganchnes mac Dedad
307:Lectures and appendix
103:, others—notably the
35:
1123:Mythological weapons
1096:part of a series on
1049:Serglige Con Culainn
811:Supernatural figures
284:Mythological weapons
280:, also in Irish myth
1014:Compert Con Culainn
757:Éogan mac Durthacht
488:Cethern mac Fintain
453:Conchobar mac Nessa
55:[ɡaːi̯bulg]
1007:Aided Óenfhir Aífe
701:Lugaid mac Con Roí
599:Dubthach Dóeltenga
594:Cormac Cond Longas
41:
1105:
1104:
782:Lugaid Riab nDerg
747:Dáire mac Fiachna
458:Amergin mac Eccit
38:J. C. Leyendecker
16:(Redirected from
1135:
1098:Celtic mythology
1063:Táin Bó Flidhais
1056:Táin Bó Cúailnge
1042:Scéla Conchobair
1028:Mac Da Thó's Pig
939:Lúin of Celtchar
868:Manannán mac Lir
604:Fergus mac Roích
553:Lóegaire Búadach
428:
421:
414:
405:
398:
391:
385:
382:
376:
373:
367:
364:
358:
355:
346:
335:
329:
318:
312:
311:
301:
202:Fergus mac Róich
156:Táin Bó Cuailnge
126:Táin Bó Cuailnge
105:Book of Leinster
57:
52:
21:
1143:
1142:
1138:
1137:
1136:
1134:
1133:
1132:
1108:
1107:
1106:
1101:
1089:
1077:Tochmarc Étaíne
994:
943:
912:
887:
806:
777:Garb mac Stairn
762:Erc mac Cairpri
737:Cairbre Nia Fer
705:
679:
630:Ailill mac Máta
608:
582:
441:
435:Irish mythology
432:
402:
401:
392:
388:
383:
379:
374:
370:
365:
361:
356:
349:
336:
332:
327:Thomas Kinsella
319:
315:
303:
302:
298:
293:
268:
171:
86:Irish mythology
50:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1141:
1139:
1131:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1110:
1109:
1103:
1102:
1094:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1087:
1080:
1073:
1070:Tochmarc Emire
1066:
1059:
1052:
1045:
1038:
1031:
1024:
1017:
1010:
1002:
1000:
996:
995:
993:
992:
987:
982:
980:Eamhain Mhacha
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
951:
949:
945:
944:
942:
941:
936:
931:
926:
920:
918:
914:
913:
911:
910:
905:
895:
893:
889:
888:
886:
885:
880:
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
814:
812:
808:
807:
805:
804:
799:
794:
789:
784:
779:
774:
769:
764:
759:
754:
749:
744:
739:
734:
729:
724:
719:
713:
711:
707:
706:
704:
703:
698:
693:
687:
685:
681:
680:
678:
677:
672:
667:
662:
657:
652:
647:
642:
640:Cet mac Mágach
637:
632:
627:
622:
616:
614:
610:
609:
607:
606:
601:
596:
590:
588:
584:
583:
581:
580:
575:
570:
565:
560:
555:
550:
545:
540:
535:
530:
525:
520:
515:
510:
505:
500:
495:
493:Conall Cernach
490:
485:
480:
475:
470:
465:
460:
455:
449:
447:
443:
442:
433:
431:
430:
423:
416:
408:
400:
399:
386:
377:
368:
359:
347:
330:
313:
295:
294:
292:
289:
288:
287:
281:
275:
267:
264:
170:
167:
141:, floated the
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1140:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1115:
1113:
1100:
1099:
1092:
1086:
1085:
1081:
1079:
1078:
1074:
1072:
1071:
1067:
1065:
1064:
1060:
1058:
1057:
1053:
1051:
1050:
1046:
1044:
1043:
1039:
1037:
1036:
1032:
1030:
1029:
1025:
1023:
1022:
1021:Fled Bricrenn
1018:
1016:
1015:
1011:
1009:
1008:
1004:
1003:
1001:
997:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
955:Brú na Bóinne
953:
952:
950:
946:
940:
937:
935:
932:
930:
927:
925:
922:
921:
919:
915:
909:
906:
904:
900:
899:Donn Cuailnge
897:
896:
894:
890:
884:
881:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
815:
813:
809:
803:
800:
798:
795:
793:
792:Nechtan Scéne
790:
788:
785:
783:
780:
778:
775:
773:
770:
768:
765:
763:
760:
758:
755:
753:
750:
748:
745:
743:
740:
738:
735:
733:
730:
728:
725:
723:
720:
718:
715:
714:
712:
708:
702:
699:
697:
694:
692:
689:
688:
686:
682:
676:
673:
671:
668:
666:
663:
661:
658:
656:
653:
651:
648:
646:
643:
641:
638:
636:
633:
631:
628:
626:
623:
621:
618:
617:
615:
611:
605:
602:
600:
597:
595:
592:
591:
589:
587:Ulster exiles
585:
579:
576:
574:
571:
569:
566:
564:
561:
559:
556:
554:
551:
549:
546:
544:
541:
539:
536:
534:
531:
529:
526:
524:
521:
519:
516:
514:
511:
509:
506:
504:
501:
499:
496:
494:
491:
489:
486:
484:
481:
479:
476:
474:
471:
469:
466:
464:
461:
459:
456:
454:
451:
450:
448:
444:
440:
436:
429:
424:
422:
417:
415:
410:
409:
406:
396:
390:
387:
381:
378:
372:
369:
363:
360:
354:
352:
348:
345:
344:Ciaran Carson
341:
340:
334:
331:
328:
324:
323:
317:
314:
309:
308:
300:
297:
290:
285:
282:
279:
278:Spear of Lugh
276:
273:
270:
269:
265:
263:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
242:
238:
234:
230:
226:
221:
219:
218:
213:
209:
208:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
182:
180:
176:
168:
165:
161:
158:
157:
151:
149:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
127:
120:
118:
114:
108:
106:
102:
98:
93:
91:
87:
83:
79:
75:
74:
69:
68:
63:
62:
56:
48:
47:
39:
34:
30:
19:
1118:Ulster Cycle
1095:
1082:
1075:
1068:
1061:
1054:
1047:
1040:
1033:
1026:
1019:
1012:
1005:
975:Dún Flidhais
933:
903:Finnbhennach
878:The Morrígan
439:Ulster Cycle
394:
389:
380:
371:
362:
337:
333:
320:
316:
306:
299:
286:, for a list
260:tautological
255:
251:
247:
243:
237:*balu-gaisos
236:
233:Proto-Celtic
228:
222:
215:
205:
197:
193:
183:
174:
172:
163:
154:
152:
142:
124:
122:
112:
110:
94:
82:Ulster Cycle
72:
71:
66:
65:
60:
59:
45:
44:
42:
29:
732:Conaire Mór
625:Ailill Finn
548:Leabharcham
503:Cú Chulainn
468:Blaí Briugu
212:King Arthur
186:Joseph Loth
97:sea monster
78:Cú Chulainn
1112:Categories
1035:Mesca Ulad
985:Magh Meall
772:Fir Fálgae
291:References
262:compound.
248:*uo-gaisu-
217:Caledfwlch
204:'s sword,
190:Kuno Meyer
160:The Táin:
948:Locations
929:Fragarach
924:Caladbolg
892:Creatures
670:Mac Cécht
655:Findabair
645:Etarcomol
533:Findchóem
513:Deichtine
498:Cruinniuc
342:, trans.
325:, trans.
241:Old Irish
235:compound
231:, from a
225:Eric Hamp
223:Linguist
214:'s sword
207:Caladbolg
179:Old Irish
169:Etymology
73:Gáe Bolga
61:Gáe Bulga
18:Gae bulga
990:Teamhair
965:Cuailghe
960:Cruachan
934:Gáe Bulg
797:Scáthach
787:Mesgegra
727:Bláthnat
613:Connacht
538:Furbaide
528:Fedlimid
508:Cúscraid
483:Celtchar
339:The Táin
322:The Táin
266:See also
143:Gáe Bulg
113:Gáe Bulg
90:Scáthach
67:Gáe Bolg
58:) (also
46:Gáe Bulg
917:Weapons
848:Flidais
802:Uathach
684:Munster
660:Flidais
650:Ferdiad
578:Súaltam
518:Deirdre
478:Cathbad
473:Bricriu
463:Athirne
272:Gungnir
252:*gaisos
135:Ferdiad
117:javelin
80:in the
1128:Spears
970:Dealga
883:Nemain
853:Lí Ban
823:Bébinn
818:Aengus
767:Fedelm
742:Connla
717:Achall
710:Others
691:Cú Roí
665:Fráech
635:Bélchú
573:Sencha
568:Naoise
558:Mugain
523:Fedelm
446:Ulster
437:: the
148:Connla
999:Texts
873:Midir
863:Macha
838:Étaín
833:Dáire
828:Boann
395:fogha
244:fogha
229:bulga
198:bwlch
175:bulga
101:spear
901:and
843:Fand
752:Emer
722:Aífe
675:Nera
620:Medb
563:Neas
543:Láeg
210:and
194:bolc
188:and
139:Láeg
131:Alba
111:The
43:The
858:Lug
256:gáe
84:of
1114::
397:).
350:^
220:.
70:,
64:,
427:e
420:t
413:v
49:(
20:)
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